The Rev. Dn. Gregory Hatrak, marketing and operations manager for SVS Press and Bookstore, set up shop at major Orthodox Christian gatherings this summer and hosted book signings with some of the Press’s most popular authors. “As I traveled to church events and parishes in various jurisdictions, it was good to see how SVS Press supports the ministry of Orthodox churches throughout America and is used for the education of both children and adults,” he noted.
Travel highlights included:
Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia booksigning
His Eminence participated in book signings at two locations where he served as a speaker: Washington, D.C., for the 18th annual Orientale Lumen Conference, June 23–26, with the theme “Ecumenical Dimensions of Marriage”; and Villanova University, PA, where he lectured on “Let Us Embrace One Another:
Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the Meeting between Pope Paul VI & Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem,” on June 29. The lecture is available on Ancient Faith Radio.
In a parish setting at St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church in America) in Gradyville, PA, with host pastor The Very Rev. John Perich, he signed his works The Inner Kingdom and The Orthodox Way, after serving Vespers and Hierarchical Liturgy celebrating the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul, June 28–29.
Illustrator Niko Chocheli booksigning
Dioceses of Charleston, Oakland, and Mid-Atlantic, and New York and Washington, D.C., of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, July 2–6.
Five years ago, the Antiochian Heritage Museum at the Village hosted an exhibit titled “Spirit and Whimsy,” which featured several of Chocheli’s original paintings, and artwork from his children’s book, The Book of Jonah, is still on display at the Museum.
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA) Clergy-Laity Congress
At the 42nd Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress, Philadelphia, PA, July 6–9, Dn. Gregory had the great pleasure of meeting GOA primate His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and presenting him with a copy of SVS Press’s most recent release The Watchful Mind: Teachings on the Prayer of the Heart, by The
Rev. George Dokos, Greek translator, along with other press publications. Dn. Gregory also met Fr. Dokos face-to-face for the first time at the conference.
“We have many bookstore accounts with Greek Archdiocese parishes,” noted Dn. Gregory, “and so it was good to be able to meet many of our phone customers face-to-face.
“In fact, the whole summer gave me the opportunity to really personalize what I normally experience online or via telephone, and it was great to meet our authors, customers, and supporters."
